Weekend Update

The weekend was glorious. It's not so much that the kids are bad (mine are actually pretty good), it's just everything feels so rushed that it's so nice to actually be able to sit back and relax.

The pressure is coming from the math program that the school has bought into. It's one of those things wherein the kids don't get a textbook, and all the quizzes are multiple choice because that way the students use whatever method they want to figure out the answer. Every day there's two periods of math (most of the other subjects are 3-5 times a week, versus the 10 times per week for math), so if the kids don't get something, there isn't a chance to repeat the material, unless you don't mind falling quickly behind on the schedule. The returning grade 5 teachers have been telling me not to worry about; one of them hasn't even started teaching the math yet. Some of my kids really aren't getting it (have you heard of using 'arrays' to figure out multiplication?), and there's no blocks/periods/recesses/after-school where I can catch them up.

In one week, the after-school clubs that we have to lead start. I did get what I wanted, which was the mini-UN club (grades 5 & 6), although I am splitting the management of the club with another new teacher. The reason why I wanted the mini-UN is twofold. Andrew did not have a choice in after-school clubs; as a grade nine teacher, he has to run the grade nine UN club. So my reason #1 is that we can now bounce ideas off of each other. Reason #2 is the possibility of trips. The UN clubs compete, and of course they will need chaperons. If I am involved with the mini-UN, it increases my chances of going on one of the trips. Locations will be revealed to you at a later date (after I get confirmation that my ploy has succeeded).

On Friday night, after grocery shopping, Andrew and I relaxed at a colleague's house for an hour or so, and then we came home. A light supper was accompanied by a Fresh Prince of Bel-Air marathon. It was satisfying. We caught the tail-end of the very first episode, and watched the next few after that. And if anyone reading this is scoffing at the Fresh Prince, I'd put money on it that you know the opening rap song.

Saturday was spend lesson planning etc. In the evening, we left on our very first Mexican date. We took a cab to the city centre, and walked amongst the many statues and fountains in this area. We then walked the length of the Santa Lucia canal (3-4 km one-way) and back before enjoying supper in a restaurant at the water's edge. We started with a cheese fondue, Andrew had a 10oz steak, and I had a heaping skillet of fajita (couldn't finish it...that never happens). With supper we had a very nice Mexican wine; all this for a paltry $57Cdn. Well done, I'd say...